LIBERAL POLITICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 115, 16 May 1924, Page 3

LIBERAL POLITICS.

—i »' ■ ■■ ■ ' WATCHING ELECTORAL REFORM. SMALL FARMER MISLED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON', this day. .Speaking at a meeting of the execuive of the Liberal and Labour Association's Wellington North branch to-day, dr. T. M. Wilford made two interesting itatements, one dealing with proporional representation and the other Mr. /eitch's meeting at Napier. In regard to proportional representa;ion, Mr. Wilford stated that there wain Electoral Bill in the air which prolosed proportional representation for ;ities and preferential voting for the jountry. He had not much belief in the ikelihood of the Government persisting :n the direction of electoral reform, but isked the executive to increase its mciujers as much as possible during the next few months so that it would be ready ,vith other branches of the party federation if proportional representation was passed shortly. Speaking of a resolution passed at Mr. Ueitch's meeting, Mr. Wilford said: "It will help us a very great deal. We have to fight two Sections in this contest, iirstly certain newspapers which say that*we are hand and glove witk .'xtrenie Labour, and, secondly, some of the small farmers, who tell mc that if they could be sure that we were not standing in with extreme Labour they would do their best for us. I met some instances of both of these phases in my trip through Sir George Hunter's electorate this week. I assured those farmers who spoke to mc on this point that we are not in any way allied to extreme Labour. I hope that this resolution, which we will christen the 'Napier resolution,' will be broadcasted through New Zealand, so that the party I lead may no longer be misrepresented to the small farmer. Sane Labour in the towns understands the position quite well. I find from my correspondence that many small farmers throughout New Zealand have up to now been misled by being told that we are not opposed to extreme Labour. There is no better friend to the workers of New Zealand than Mr. Veitch, and they know it. This is not the first time is politics that a temporary win haa become a permanent loss to the mover of a resolution, and to his party." A HOSTILE MOTION; <\ 1! (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) NAPIER, Thursday. An address was given last evening h? Mr. W. A. Veitch, M.P., Wanganui, in continuation of the Liberal-Labour campaign throughout New Zealand. The attendance numbered about 800. The speaker's remarks consisted of a criticism of the Massey Government in numerous matters, and an advocacy or his party's policy. A good hearing was accorded, but a. question thne Mr. Veitch was peppered with hostile questions from a strong Labour section. The following motion was declared carried amid Labour enthusiasm: "That this meeting of Napier citizens, disgusted with the palpable hypocrisy of the official Opposition stying itself the Liberal-Labour party, that voted 131 times in support of tiie Massey Government they were electe.. to oppose, out of 219 divisions, condemns the policy and attitude of Mr. Wilford and his followers, and expresses its confi fence in the New Zealand Labour party, with Mr. Holland as its head." Subsequently a vote of thanks to Mr. Veitch was moved by Mr. G. McKay. M.P.. Hawke's Bay.' and carried, fn replying, Mr. Veitch expressed the opinion that if the Labour motion were put again a majority of those present would vote against it.